Sir Richard Rainsford, who was but a secondary character in his profession, had the disadvantage of succeding a man who was confessedly at the head of it. His merit, eclipsed by the superior lustre of his predecessor, appeared to be much less than it was in reality. He was as much above sir William Scroggs, his successor, in point of integrity, as he was below sir Matthew Hale in point of learning.---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1779.